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P. O. LIDKE.

HAND'STAMP.

(No Model.)

No. 345,064. Patented July 6, 1886.

WITNESSES $5604 4) INVENTOR v ATTORNEYS.

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nrrnn STATES PATENT Fries.

FRED O. LIDKE, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

HAND-STAMP.

SPHCIFICATIQN forming part Of Letters Patent No. 345,064, dated July 6,1886,

Application filed March 2, 1886. Serial No. 193,800. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED O. LIDKE, of Washington city, District ofColumbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hand- Stamps, ofwhich the following is a description.

My invention is an improvement in handstamps, and particularly in thatclass of such stamps employed by the Government for canceling andmarking postagestamps. The stamp now generally used for such purpose isprovided with a circular series of characters, usually letters, denotingthe place of mailing, which letters are cut by hand and at greatexpense. In such case, also, whenasingle letter becomes broken, worn, orotherwise useless, it destroys the usefulness of the stock, which mustbe cast aside and a new one procured.

Myinvention seeks to provide a simple construction by which the lettersmay be formed separately from and be self-retaining in the stock, and ithas for further objects other improvements, as will be pointed out.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and novelcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are face views of my stamp. Fig. 3 is adetail View of the stamping-strip with an integral rimstrip. Fig. 4shows the stamp-strip with a separated rim. Figs. 5 and 6show the stampswithout the canceling portions, and Figs. 7 and 8 are views illustratingprocesses in the preparation of the stamp now commonly used. Fig. 9 is aperspective view of my stamp, showing the cover-plate. Fig. 10 is adetached section on line as m, Fig. 9, with dotted lines, illustratingthe manner ofremoving the datingbars. Fig. 11 is a detachedcross-section of the stock shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the stampstrip beingremoved. Fig. 12 is a central longitudinal section of the stamp; andFig. 13 shows the stamp-strip in connection with a stock having a coreon which the strip binds, all of which will be described.

In the construction of the stamp now gen erally used, the face of thestock B is first planed offlevel, and then cut by the lines, as

shown in Fig. 7, which leaves the elevated portion 1, which serves tocancel the stamp, and the raised'ring 2, on which is cut by hand thename of the mailing-place; and surrounding this part 2 is a rim, 3. Now,it will be seen the parts 4 4 are usually chiseled away, as shown inFig. 8, which operation requires time and care to prevent damage to theraised portions 1, 2, and 3. In such case, also, the stamp, after theletters are cut, is subjected to the tempering-lire, and it sometimeshappens that such fire cracks the fine lines in the letters or elsewhereand destroys the stamp, resulting in a loss of all the work previouslyperformed.

In my invention the stock is formed with a socket, A, fitted to receivethe stamp-strip B. This strip when used simplyfor marking purposes maybe formed plain, as shown in Fig. 1; but it is preferred to form'it withletters, figures, or other characters, as the circumstances may require.This stamp-strip is formed into the desired shape, which may beapproximately circular, as preferred, or triangular, oval, or othersuitable shape, its ends approaching each other, so that when forcedtoward each other or apart they will have a force and tendency to resumetheir normal position and so operate to retain the strip in place. Theformation of the characters on the strip is preferably accomplished bypassing it after it is annealed between roller-dies, thus rolling theletters onto the strips. The strips are then bent around a former, or inother suitable manner, into the desired shape of a normal external size,slightly greater than the socket A, and tempered, so that whencompressed and slipped into the socket and released they will of theirown tension be held in place.

\Vhile it is preferred to follow the abovedescribed method of formingthe strip, it will be understood that such part may be stamped, punched,or otherwise formed into the desired shape and in a continuous band,which subsequently is separated by an opening, forming the separatedends,which approach each other, and will operate by tension to bind thestrip in place when in use.

It will be understood that the rim 0 may be formed integral with thestock; but it is preferred to form it integral with the strip B, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3. It may be formed separately, as shown in Figs. 2and 4, under certain circumstances. By thus forming the rim separatelyfrom the stock the surface of the latter in front of the portion 1 maybe cut off in a lathe or other machine, and much more expeditiously thanin the common construction; also, by either of these constructions, whenthe rim becomes worn or broken it may be replaced at a small expensewithout involving the necessity of a new stock.

As an instance in which the use of a rim separate from the strip wouldbe useful, it may be stated that when in the use of a stampstrip with anintegral rim the rim becomes broken, the broken rim may be cut from thestamp-strip and the latter be used with a separate rim, as shown in Fig.2.

Practical experience has demonstrated that one of the stampstripscomplete will not cost more than the expense of cutting a single letteron the stock now used, so that when the letter ing of a stampconstructed according to my invention becomes useless, it may bereplaced by a new strip at a trifling expense, the same stock beingretained. It will also be seen that my invention may be applied to theworn-out or other stocks now in common use by simply boring or cuttingaway the fixed type-bearing ribs or strips thereof and fitting one ofmy.

stamp-strips in place, as will be understood. It will be understood,also, that the stampstrip may be applied to the simple handstamps, suchas shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and independent of the canceling portion 1.

- It is usual to form the stock with an opening or openings, D, leadinginto the socket A and fitted to receive the dating figures and letters.

To enable the convenient application of these parts, I provide the coverplate E, supported and rotatable above the stock. This plate E has anopening, 6, which may be turned to register with or away from theopening I). In use the plate E is adjusted with its opening 0 inregister with the opening D. The dating block or characters may then beadjusted through opening 0 into or out of place for use, when by turningthe plate E the dating block or characters when adjusted for use may beheld in place. This forms a simple and convenient means of securing thedating-characters, and will be fully understood from the fore going inconnection with Figs!) and of the drawings.

It will-be understood that by my invention several strips may beemployed one within the other, and be held by their own tension.

It is manifest that instead of securing the stain p-stri p in place bythe outward tension of the ends, such strip might be caused to encirclea central core, and be secured by its contracting tension when expanded,as will be understood from Fig. 13; but I prefer the construction andarrangement previously described.

Having thus dcscribedmy invention, what I claim as new is- 1.. Astamp-strip formed of metal and suitably shaped, with its endsapproaching each other, and constructed substantially as de scribed,whereby it will be self-retaining in operative position, substantiallyas set forth.

2. The combinatioinwith the socketed stock, of a stamp-strip formed ofmetal and sprung 'into the socket of the stock, whereby it may F. c.LIDKE.

Vitnesscs:

E. L. We rrn, 1?. B. TURPIN.

